Two Kinds Of hope

Two Kinds Of Hope

Rom 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

   What is hope, and how is it relevant to the Christian? I saw something about hope in the book of Romans this morning, and I wanted to share it. I hope this will further our understanding of God's faithfulness.

   I looked up the word for hope in Strong’s Concordance, I used e-sword (which I highly recommend, by the way), and I found out that the two words rendered as hope in this verse, are the same Greek word, even though the context indicates two kinds of hope. Hope is defined as "confidence", or "expectation". Combining the two, I see 'confident expectation' as a good way to say it.

   How can hope be against hope? The marginal notes in my bible write it as hope, contrary to hope. One hope was more credible to Abraham than the other hope, and He made a choice to believe in the second hope.

   The first hope which we see, is an expectation which was based on Abraham's perception of his situation, as registered by his senses and his natural logic. Logic and sensory input said that it's too late in life to have a child with Sarah, she's past child bearing age.

  The second hope that we see, is based on the promise of God, and Abraham chose to believe in the promise, is spite of, and contrary to, what his natural mind told him. Abraham was faced with two definitions of reality; the natural, apparant truth, and the truth according to God's definition of how things are.

   By choosing to believe God, Abraham was considered to be righteous in God's eyes. By choosing to accept God's definition of who you are, you also become righteous. Your confidence and your expectation is in God, and HE will bring you into greater truth and light . HE will make the changes that are necessary, in order for you to be conformed into his image.

   Put your hope in your God, and you will not be ashamed or disappointed!

Rom 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:

Rom 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Rom 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

   True Christian hope, puts our focus on Jesus, and not on our perceived circumstances or on our ability to make things happen. We have a confident expectation of grace from God, because we believe his word, and we are fully persuaded that he is able and willing to do what he has promised. We know from the promises of the New Covenant, that God is love, and he is looking for someone who will take him up on his offer of grace. Our heavenly Father is always looking for someone to bless!

  [Don't be a sourpuss who tells people that God is ticked off at the world, and he is always looking for a reason to spank his children with sickness, poverty, and trouble so they will learn to respect and obey him.]

   Hope is listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit, in Galatians 5:22: therefore we know that God is the source of hope, and He is our source and our expectation.

   Our God-given hope gives our faith something to reach for. Hebrews 11:1 says "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen." Later in Hebrews 11:11, we read that Sarah judged him who had promised, to be faithful, even though her womb was as good as dead.

Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 

 

   Hope isn't just 'wishful thinking', it is putting your confidence in our Loving God, and expecting that everything will be all right! Our lives are in his capable hands, rest in his grace, and expect your life to get better, no matter what your present situation looks like!

   Dare to believe God, and his joy and peace will be multiplied in your life as you put your hope in the "God of hope.

©2011 Rev. Chuck  Loubert